Geothermal-powered Wildcat Ridge Residence boasts breathtaking views of Aspen, Colorado

If the sight of snow-capped mountains makes you happy, you’ll love the Wildcat Ridge Residence, a geothermal-powered house that boasts breathtaking alpine views of Aspen, Colorado.

Designed by Voorsanger Architects, the Wildcat Ridge Residence is located at an elevation of 9,200 feet and was created with a minimal environmental footprint—an important design consideration given the fragile but challenging surroundings. The house stretches north to south along the longitudinal parallel of the crest of the mountain ridge and is clad in uninterrupted floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize panoramic views of the mountainous landscape.

The 14,300-square-foot, two-story Wildcat Ridge Residence was built on a site that had been previous excavated for a discontinued residential project. Voorsanger Architects visually and physically minimized the structure’s impact on the landscape by creating a simple glass-and-sandstone facade, building with locally sourced natural materials, reforesting the previously uprooted site, and sustainably powering the home with 72 geothermal wells and a generator.

The design is defined by three major elements: a folded steel roof that supports heavy snow loads and dramatically cantilevers over the driveway; a large 12-foot-high moss rock wall that bisects the house into east and west, and conceals structural columns; and the immense expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass that offer panoramic mountain views. The west wing is oriented towards the most dramatic alpine views and houses the communal areas, study, and master bedroom. The east wing, which contains the guest bedrooms, faces views of the receding mountain range. The interior walls, floors, and ceilings are clad in black walnut.